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Engineering

The Battle of the Atlantic along the coast was the closest World War II got to the U.S. Archaeologists are documenting the wrecks of allied ships and German U-boats to study and preserve in photos and videos a part of the nation's history.

Scientists at UNC Coastal Studies Institute are testing new technologies that would harness the power of the ocean to create new sources of energy. Ongoing studies look at the energy potential and feasibility of generating energy from wind, waves, and currents.

A biotech start-up at UNC Charlotte could revolutionize how we take medicines by using soybean seeds. Scientists are inserting the DNA from viruses in the protein-rich seeds of soybeans, and believe eating the modified soybeans can turn the human immune system in the gut on or off against various diseases.

Mary-Dell Chilton's DNA discoveries launched the field of genetically modifying plants to ward off pests, use less water, and improve yields. Supporters say it could help feed the world. Opponents say it's not safe, threatening the environment and people in ways that may not be known yet. By discovering the mechanism of DNA transfer, Chilton bestowed that power to humans.

Former Disney animator and President Lincoln fan Christopher Oakley never thought his project to animate the Gettysburg Address would lead to an important historical discovery. But while researching the project, Oakley used his animation skills and new technology to discover a never-before-seen image of Lincoln at Gettysburg, also revealing that an image everyone thought was of Lincoln, was not.

David Johnston is an Assistant Professor of the Practice of Marine Conservation & Ecology at the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University. As a kid, growing up miles from the ocean, he fell in love with the dazzling underwater photography brought into his living room by television. Today, he uses radio telemetry to get a more detailed image of the behavior of the ocean’s magnificent mammals.

Hunters wiped out gray seals from the Cape Cod region in the 1800s. They've returned with federal protection, and now biologists are using high-tech tracking devices to study gray seals and how they interact with their environment, so they can be better protected.

Researchers at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences are using camera traps, and enlisting citizen scientists, to study wild animal populations, behavior, habitat, and in a long term study, how human activity is affecting animal populations in a given area.

Roland Kays started studying animals in a physics class. He thought he wanted to work in a genetic engineering lab but thought better of it when he saw a film about a zoologist peering into prairie dog mounds looking for burrowing owls. He switched his major to zoology and fell in love with mammals. Today, he keeps tabs on thousands of mammals in their natural habitats with the aid of new technology and citizen volunteers at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences.

It took Tana Villafana some time to figure out that she wanted to be a chemist. She started out hoping to be a writer and a musician. But as things worked out, she got to combine her love of the humanities with her love of electromagnetism.

Ph.D. Research Assistant: employed by a university to conduct research while seeking to earn a doctorate degree. They are typically responsible to a principal investigator.